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The pain Ink felt when Fresh put that vial in his mouth was horrendous.
Ink didn't know if that was because he never felt pain before, or if it was really that hurtful, but he didn't liked it, not a bit.
Maybe that physical pain wasn't the real problem here, sure, he disliked that a lot, but nothing compared to the same old feeling of being betrayed again.
Ink was familiar with the feeling, when he worked with creators for months but abruptly they decided to gived up was a really good example, maybe he was wrong for feeling like that, he knew it wasn't really their fault, but he couldn't help it. All his work for nothing in the end, it surely was disappointing.
But everytime he could just get over it, stand up again and help more people, sometimes he would just forget it and everything would be okay.
But now it wasn't like that, he couldn't just forget.
XGaster has been lying to him, his creations are made purely of pain, and he planned to give that to Fresh for only Gaster knows why, he didn't even tell him, and that was his signal for being no good.
What else XGaster has been lying to him? He have been not only hurting others but himself, how Ink never noticied this? Surely, XGaster methods are a little weird, but it's nothing...Bad
...Right?
"I was so desperate to help the creators and save this multiverse."
Cross stared at him as Ink talked.
"That i never really noticied that the real enemy was right under my nose." Ink looked down, directly to his vials.
"Literally." They laughed a little
Cross took a deep breath and looked down a little.
"Ink, i don't care about any of your apologies–"
"Oh, i know that." Ink interrupted, he knew Cross for long enough to know how direct and rude he could be, but to be honest, Ink liked that, it was more easy to talk this way.
"I just want you to know, i'm gonna confront XGaster to stop this, once and for all" They said, Cross was surprised, but all ears this time, Ink was smiling, not in his Classic-Troublemaker-Smile as always, in a simple, little and conforting smile. For some reason, Cross found that way more worrisome than that creppy face Ink do.
"And that's why i want you to take this" Putting their hand in their pocket, Ink took two little itens, a folded paper, and a Blue vial.
Ink took proximity of Cross, putting the two itens in his hand and closing right after. They looking right in his eyes, serious.
"I know we aren't friends like that anymore, and that asking you to trust me after everything is a absurd thing to do." He paused, now staring at Cross's hands. "But i need you now for this, and i swear that after everything, i will never again get near you or your AU, doing the thing i should have done as i promised to do with every AU, not interfere."
Cross hesitaded. Choked in his own words and troubling to speak, Ink noticied.
"Please. I have a plan" begged.
Cross was still quiet and staring Ink, he didn't trust them anymore, both didn't have any relationship anymore, he knew that, but he couldn't stop to care.
"Are you sure this is gonna work?" Cross was worried, trying to hide in a cold face and serious tone.
"We don't have more options."
"And what will happen to you?" And then again, he couldn't stop to care even if he wanted.
Ink stopped, surprised.
He hesitaded. Then smiled again.
"Nothing i can't take it."
Ink knew he no longer had the privilege of being able to tell Cross the truth, to call for help, to cry of fear, so, he just did as he always have done, he assured confidence in himself, as if nothing could break him down, as if he was the hero everyone could count on.
Ink couldn't tell the truth even to himself, imagine to other someone. Maybe this was really for the better.
Ink picked up brommie from his back and spilled a Black ink into the ground, giving just a look to Cross before jumping into the puddle and disappearing.
—
Ink was in front of XGaster, no insignficant sound worth of the attention of both, both waiting for a moment, a phrase, maybe even a attack or sudden movement indicating a threat.
He lied, he used them, maked them so ignorant as any other about his real motives, Ink held tighter the big pencil that was in his side, preparing himself for something, then, took a step.
"I—", he stopped, hesitaded, took a breath, and then took the courage to finish the phrase. "I thought we were friends" It sounded more melancholic than Ink intented to be, but still like as the strong affirmation he wanted.
"Ink, Ink, my friend. I thought you more than anyone would understand, sometimes..." He looked at his side, getting more closer to a table full of old papers and records of the old timelines . Just a pile of thrash, waste of time and space.
" sacrifices should be done to a greater good."
Ink stays silent, understanding what is he saying, he couldn't really talk different, they were the same after all, how hypocrite of Ink's part to say that they're not, if he did the same, if they worked together for the same purpose.
XGaster looks at Ink again.
"Yes, we are friends, and sometimes, friends need to lie to eachother if necessary."
So it was necessary to lie to Ink, because talking about his true intentions with his friend wasn't a option, because he couldn't trust him.
"so you never really trusted me?" Ink looks disappointing again, another creator didn't trusted Ink, didn't have the confidence in him to protect their universe. Just used him.
"If i never trusted you really, then how could i give my soul to you? My friend, you are saying such fool things, all i did, i have to thanks to you." He gets more closer, Ink doesn't know how to react, he just stares, hopeful that Xgaster is saying the truth. Hopeful he is wrong.
And then, he takes a new form, the old form, the old man they know.
The man who just wanted a good world for his children, the best universe with the power he was given it.
Adjusting the glasses, he is with a gentle look, all he always wanted was to do a perfect universe for his children to be happy, to have everything they deserve, the complete experience of life.
Ink takes a step back, and without notice, the hand of Xgaster is on top of Ink's head. conforting, like saying to be calm. Like saying to be not afraid.
"I trust in you more than anyone, you're so useful, so competent that i could never trust anybody else to be my partner in this game, that's why you are my friend"
Ink stays where he is, a little shocked, but a happiness that Ink refuses to takes over his head, he could not let XGaster do his mind like this, but finally, somehow, he was useful.
He really helped a friend, Xgaster really trusted in him to do this, how could he doubt his intentions? He was again a bad friend to anybody, so ungrateful to everything XGaster has done to him.
"I'm–" apologize.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for doubting you." The words almost didn't come out of his mouth, the shame he should felt, he must show shame for what he have done, how pathetic of him, to apologize after being such a horrible friend, so distateful, such a problem.
And XGaster smiles at him. Satisfied.
"I forgive you."